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Agreements and politics

Bilateral treaties, the tax agreement, federal votes and reforms affecting cross-border workers.

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192 articles on agreements and politics, newest first.

• Naturalization Canton of Lucerne: requirements and procedure

  To obtain Swiss citizenship in the Canton of Lucerne, you must meet certain requirements and follow a precise procedure.

• Disillusioned unions: we may withdraw our support

  The decision of the Economic Commission to the Council of States not to modify the measures on wage protection irritates the president of Travail Suisse Adrian Wüthrich

• EU deal rejection remains an option

  The Economic Commission of the Council of States rejected parts of the measures negotiated by the social partners to protect wages under the package of agreements with the EU.

• Hospital bills in Switzerland: what the law requires

  By law in Switzerland every patient receives a copy of the invoices issued in their name, but understanding remains complex for non-attendants.

• Abusive pensions initiative: the situation in Switzerland

  The popular initiative 'Yes to protection against illegal rents' collected 108,437 valid signatures. Here's what's changing for Swiss tenants.

• Abusive prisons, the initiative succeeded with over 108,000 signatures

  The popular initiative "Yes to protection against illegal rents" has reached the minimum number of signatures needed to be presented to the referendum.

• The Federal Council adopted the message on the Compass Initiative.

  The Federal Council adopted the message on the Compass Initiative.

• Amendment of the Banking Act: Federal Department of Finance

  The Federal Council approved the benchmarks for the elaboration of regulatory adjustments according to the measures and recommendations contained in the Federal Council's report on the stability of banks and in the report of the Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry.

• Compass Initiative: the Government proposes to reject it

  The Federal Council recommends that Parliament reject the Compass Initiative without counter-proposals. At the center is the node on future Bilaterals III.

• Government says no to food initiative

  The Federal Council rejects the popular initiative on food, arguing that the demands made are excessive and unfeasible.

• VAT increase for safety: proposed increase of 0.5 percentage points

  The Swiss Government is proposing an increase in VAT by 0.5 percentage points to finance arms purchases.

• Civic service initiative, appeals are inadmissible

  The Federal Court has ruled that appeals filed by supporters of the 'For a Switzerland that engages' initiative (Civic Service Initiative) are inadmissible.

• Government: 0.5 percentage point increase over 12 years

  The VAT increase of 0.5 percentage points will be applied from 2028 and for a period of 12 years.

• Towards an increase in VAT for defence

  The Government maintains the proposal of an increase of 0.5 percentage points for a period of 12 years.

• Federal Council: Switzerland-EU agreements not in the referendum

  The Federal Council explained that the conditions required by the Commission for the political institutions of the States were not met.

• Security at a high price: proposed VAT increase

  The Federal Council proposes an increase in VAT of 0.5 percentage points for 12 years to strengthen Switzerland's defence capability

• Federal Council rejects Financial Square Initiative

  The Federal Council recommends that Parliament reject without counter-proposal the initiative on the Swiss financial centre.

• 30 km/h zones in cities, Federal Council intervenes

  The Federal Council has decided to amend the Traffic Signs Ordinance to introduce speed limits of 30 km/h in cities.

• Bilateral III: no specific protections for trade unionists

  The Economic and Taxation Commission of the Council of States excludes the rule that would have strengthened protections for union representatives in companies.

• 500 million for ammunition, strengthens defense

  Commission proposes 500 million francs for ammunition to strengthen defence

• Bilateral III, one of the accompanying measures falters

  The Economic and Tax Commission of the Council of States rejected measure 14, which strengthened the protection against dismissal of staff and trade union representatives active in companies.

• Maintaining Neutrality

  The Federal Council wants to maintain the current room for manoeuvre on neutrality. The popular initiative on neutrality will be voted on September 27.

• Neutrality: Federal Council denies constitutional tightening

  The federal government is calling for the neutrality initiative to be rejected, warning that a rigid definition would limit Switzerland's room for manoeuvre.

• Neutrality: Current practice is in Switzerland's interest

  The Federal Council calls for the rejection of the neutrality initiative in the vote on 27 September